A boy for Kate and William

Prince William's wife, Kate, has given birth to a prince who is now third in line to the British throne.

The child was born Monday afternoon, after many Britons woke up to the news that Kate, also known as the Duchess of Cambridge, had gone into labor with the couple's first child.

The royal birth announcement said the boy was born at 4:24 p.m. weighing 8 pounds, 6 ounces. William was present for the birth, the statement said. The announcement did not include a name for the future monarch, though one is expected to be revealed in the coming days.

"Her Royal Highness and her child are both doing well and will remain in hospital overnight," it said. William also issued a brief statement, saying "we could not be happier."

Cries of joy erupted from the waiting crowd amassed near Buckingham Palace as the news came through, and hundreds of onlookers — some of whom had camped outside for hours — crushed against the palace's fences to catch a glimpse of the bulletin formally announcing the birth placed outside the palace's forecourt.

William's father, Charles, and his wife, Camilla, spoke of their joy and pride in becoming grandparents for the first time.

"It is an incredibly special moment for William and Catherine and we are so thrilled for them on the birth of their baby boy," Prince Charles said. "Grandparenthood is a unique moment in anyone's life, as countless kind people have told me in recent months, so I am enormously proud and happy to be a grandfather for the first time and we are eagerly looking forward to seeing the baby in the near future."